A permanent magnet drive on-load tap-changing switch including a changing switch circuit that includes an odd- and an even-numbered tap-changing circuit that are structurally identical. The tap-changing circuits include working contactors and dual-contact synchronous transition contactors made of primary contactors and secondary contactors. The working contactors and the dual-contact synchronous transition contactors directly face moving contactors. The moving contactors are connected in parallel to each other. Moving contactor permanent magnets are bijectively connected onto the moving contactors. The moving contactor permanent magnets directly face on the other extremity thereof a moving contactor driving mechanism. The moving contactor driving mechanism moves the permanent magnets. The switch is structurally simple and convenient to use, obviates the need for a highspeed mechanism, implements changing by direct actions of the contactors, operates at high speed and reliably, has a low failure rate, an extended service life, and value for widespread use.

A push-button with a receptacle and a cover plate, an actuating button actuatable in translation between two positions, a rest position and a pushed-in position, the cover plate being arranged at the periphery of the actuating button, a device for guiding the actuating button in translation between the two positions, and a return device for returning the actuating button from the pushed-in position toward the rest position. The guiding device include at least a pin including a bent rod shaped to have a first part pivotally mounted on a fastening unit of the actuating button and a second part pivotally mounted on a fastening unit of the cover plate, and the return device are designed to act on the pin by mechanical or magnetic effect.

The present disclosure includes a rotary dial assembly having a holder and a dial portion rotatably coupled to the holder. A plurality of dial magnets are fixed to the dial portion. A holder magnet is on a side of the holder opposite to the dial portion. The holder magnet is configured to attract or repel the plurality of dial magnets as the dial portion is rotated to resist rotation of the dial portion.

Various embodiments of a detent assembly are disclosed. The detent assembly includes a base having a major surface, a first magnetic region, and a second magnetic region, where the first and second magnetic regions are disposed on or within the major surface. Each of the first and second magnetic regions includes a magnetic polarity. The detent assembly further includes an actuator connected to the base, where the actuator includes a major surface and a magnetic region disposed on or within the major surface. The magnetic region of the actuator includes the same magnetic polarity as the magnetic polarity of the first and second magnetic regions of the base. The base and the actuator are adapted to move relative to each other. Further, the first and second magnetic regions of the base repel the magnetic region of the actuator to define detent positions between the base and the actuator.

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a body. At least a portion of the body includes one or more instances of magnetic material. The apparatus includes a moveable element coupled to the body and separated by a distance in a first dimension from the portion of the body. The moveable element includes one or more instances of magnetic material, and is configured to move in at least a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension while the distance between the moveable element and the portion of the body remains fixed by the apparatus. At least one instance of the magnetic material in the moveable element repels or attracts at least one instance of the magnetic material in the body.

There is described a tactile feedback actuator generally having a hammer path having a length extending between two opposite ends, a coil element fixedly mounted relative to the hammer path, a magnetic hammer guidingly mounted for movement along the hammer path. The magnetic hammer is electromagnetically engageable by a magnetic field emitted upon activation of the coil element so as to be longitudinally slid along the hammer path in any one of two opposite directions depending on a polarity of activation of the coil element. The tactile feedback actuator has at least one electropermanent magnet at at least one of the opposite ends of the hammer path, the electropermanent magnet having a magnetization direction aligned with the length of the hammer path, and at least one state toggling device configured for toggling a state of the electropermanent magnet between a magnetized state and an unmagnetized state.

A lighting control console for controlling a lighting system, wherein digital adjusting commands are generated in the lighting control console that can be transmitted to the lighting system via data links. At least one dual encoder is provided in the control panel of the lighting control console which allows users to enter input values. The dual encoder includes a first shaft and a second shaft rotatably mounted in a housing, first and second locking mechanisms for locking different rotational positions of the first and second shafts, and at least one first and at least one second rotation signal generator for generating a data signal showing a switchover between two locking positions. Both shafts include actuating elements at which adjusting movements can be transmitted onto the shafts by hand.

A switching assembly can include a lever arm that is magnetically attached to at least a portion of a base plate. A contact may be positioned in a spaced apart and above one end of the lever arm. Alternatively, the contact may be included in the base plate. Another switching assembly can include a movable element adapted to electrically connect with a contact in the switch assembly and a guide a guide having a geometry that directs the element along a first travel path to the contact and a second travel path away from the contact. A geometry of the guide is based on a first displacement curve that is associated with the first travel path and on a second displacement curve that is associated with the second travel path.

A lighting control console for controlling a lighting system, wherein digital adjusting commands are generated in the lighting control console that can be transmitted to the lighting system via data links. At least one dual encoder is provided in the control panel of the lighting control console which allows users to enter input values. The dual encoder includes a first shaft and a second shaft rotatably mounted in a housing, first and second locking mechanisms for locking different rotational positions of the first and second shafts, and at least one first and at least one second rotation signal generator for generating a data signal showing a switchover between two locking positions. Both shafts include actuating elements at which adjusting movements can be transmitted onto the shafts by hand.

A permanent magnet drive on-load tap-changing switch including a changing switch circuit that includes an odd- and an even-numbered tap-changing circuit that are structurally identical. The tap-changing circuits include working contactors and dual-contact synchronous transition contactors made of primary contactors and secondary contactors. The working contactors and the dual-contact synchronous transition contactors directly face moving contactors. The moving contactors are connected in parallel to each other. Moving contactor permanent magnets are bijectively connected onto the moving contactors. The moving contactor permanent magnets directly face on the other extremity thereof a moving contactor driving mechanism. The moving contactor driving mechanism moves the permanent magnets. The switch is structurally simple and convenient to use, obviates the need for a highspeed mechanism, implements changing by direct actions of the contactors, operates at high speed and reliably, has a low failure rate, an extended service life, and value for widespread use.